Lauren Coughlin started her first round at the CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary with a string of pars, but her patience paid off as she finished with five birdies on the front nine to take the clubhouse lead with a 4-under 68. Coughlin, who is in search of her maiden victory on the LPGA, has been hitting the ball extremely well since her strong performances at the Amundi Evian Championship and the Chevron Championship earlier this season.
Currently ranked sixth on the Solheim points list, Coughlin looks like a strong contender for this year’s Solheim Cup, which will be held at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia, just an hour away from her home. Australian golfer Minjee Lee opened with a 69, while Canadian superstar Brooke Henderson shot a 72. Henderson, who won the Canadian Women’s Open in 2018, has six top-25 finishes in her national open and has a scoring average of 70.06 at the CPKC.
The CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club marks the first time this historic club has hosted a professional event. Only three of the top 10 players in the world are in the field of 156, including Lilia Vu, Hannah Green, and Rose Zhang. The field also includes 17 Canadian players. Despite wildfire smoke causing the Air Quality Index to soar in Calgary, play was not halted on Thursday. Coughlin, who has experienced playing in poor air quality conditions at the Portland Classic in 2020, found the conditions in Calgary manageable.
The CPKC Women’s Open is the 30th different venue for the Canadian Women’s Open, showcasing the diversity of courses that have hosted this prestigious event. As the players gear up for the Olympic Games, the competition at the CPKC is heating up with top players vying for the title. Henderson is looking to make a strong comeback in the next rounds to climb up the leaderboard after a solid performance in the first round. With the Solheim Cup on the horizon, Coughlin’s strong start at the CPKC Women’s Open puts her in a favorable position to secure her spot on the team.
